Category: Oscar

He’s in dreamland…

I often find myself watching Oscar as he appears to be having the most awesome dream. Jowls twitching, nose sniffing and feet seemingly running. I find it hysterical to watch and often reach for my camera or phone to film my boy having the time of his life in dreamland. But the real question is, Does Oscar dream?

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I’m happy to admit that Oscar doesn’t get the gold medal for being the most active boy on the block but he is the most happy-go-lucky soul I have ever met. Happy to snooze under my feet in the office, happy to fall asleep next to me while I watch my favourite t.v shows, happy to sun tan with me and of course he is happy to snuggle up in bed. I would say Oscar’s favourite pass time is sleeping. So let’s explore whether Oscar does dream or not…

The simple answer is yes. While we do not know for sure what our beloved pups dream about, studies have shown that they enter a state of deep sleep just like us humans do. It is during this deep sleeping period that Oscar has his various dreams. It is also said that smaller dogs will dream a lot more each night than larger dogs will. Puppies also dream more than adult dogs because they are processing the new information they learn each day.

Obviously I would love to ask Oscar what he dreamt about last night and have him answer me, but unfortunately that is not the case. We can only speculate that his dreams are similar to mine. Replaying the days events of chasing birds, eating his treats and barking at the clouds.

While your pups sudden growls and howls may be alarming, please do not wake him from his dream. Your pup needs deep uninterrupted sleep for healthy brain activity. Think about how you feel when you have suddenly been woken up from your dreams…

Waking your pooch from a deep, dreaming sleep may startle him and this could result in him lashing out. A startled pup needs a moment to assess his surroundings. So please let your pup sleep.

The positions our furry loves sleep in can tell us how comfortable and happy they are at that particular moment. Oscar has many sleeping positions, but here are a few of his favourites and what they mean.

paw Side sleeping: We call this one ‘sleeping like a human’ since Oscar always has his head on a pillow and is covered by his comfy duvet. This is said to be a very restful and comfortable sleeping position. It means Oscar is comfortable with his surroundings without the fear of threats.

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paw Curled up like a ball: This is the most defensive position. Oscar will tuck his feet and tail tightly under himself and nudge his head close to his body too. It isn’t a very restful position and it can also mean he is cold and trying to keep himself warm.

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paw Legs up: When Oscar sleeps in this position, it shows absolute relaxation and comfort. He doesn’t have a care in the world!

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paw Curled side sleep: This is a favourite for many of our furry loves. Oscar will sleep on his tummy, slightly curled up and cosy. This is a comfortable position to for him to sleep in and it allows him to jump up quickly if need be.

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It is important that your pooch has at least one super comfortable bed to sleep on. Yes, Oscar is very spoilt and has three of his own dedicated bed, plus he uses the couch and the outside furniture as his resting spots too. If you wouldn’t sleep on your pups bed then you shouldn’t expect him to either. Please make sure you provide him with something comfortable and clean.

You can browse the Stylish Paws online store for handmade beds click here.

Thank you for reading.

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Oscar’s Schnoz!

Who doesn’t love the feeling of a cold wet nose transferring all the love in the world to you?

Oscar is a cross Basset Hound and Bulldog-Yes a very cute mix 🙂 And Oscar definitely has the nose of a hound! It never stops working, even when he sleeps he lets me know that his nose is his most prized possession. He absolutely loves wondering through fields and sniffing new blades of grass, forgetting that he has ears. When I get home, his favourite thing to sniff for information is my handbag. His head goes right inside and he has a good old sniff, he will then decide if he needs to be annoyed with me for being with other animals or not. I often notice that Oscar’s nose will be wet one moment and dry the next. At some point during pet parenting we have all had that someone tell us “If your dogs nose is dry and warm then he is sick”. So I decided to do some sniffing of my own and find out exactly what Oscar’s schnoz goes through on a daily basis…

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paw A wet nose: Oscar’s nose is wet for a reason!

  • It secretes a lubricating mucus that allows him to pick up and identify different scents.
  • Oscar’s nose is everywhere, constantly sniffing away, eating and drinking which causes him to lick his nose too. This keeps it clean, cool and wet.

paw A dry nose:

There are many reasons influencing Oscar’s dry nose.

  • When he wakes up from a nap, his nose is often warm and dry-which is normal and ok.
  • Oscar loves sun bathing. This will cause his nose to become dry too. I often spray some sun cream on his nose when he is in the sun to prevent his schnoz from becoming dry, burnt and cracked.
  • Does your pup love sitting by a warm heater or fire during the winter months? Oscar does, and this will also influence his dry nose.
  • During hot summer days I make sure Oscar has access to fresh cold water at all times, dehydration will result in your pups nose being dry too.

 

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paw Just some facts: 

  • Us humans inhale and exhale through our nostrils, your pup however inhales through his nostrils but exhales through the slits on the side of his nose.
  • Each dog on the planet has his own unique nose print, just like our finger prints.
  • Your pooch can really smell your fear! Fear automatically raises your heart rate, which releases chemicals in your body that dogs can tune into. He can also smell your anxiety and sadness-so there is no fooling your best friend!
  • Dogs sniff each others bums to gather important information, if they are a boy or a girl, if they are friendly or if they have met before. They also pass on messages via urine. The dog park is kind of like a newspaper for our pooches-I wonder what Oscar is telling the other dogs when he pee’s on every single tree he passes 🙂

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So there you have it, it is safe to say that when your pup has a dry nose it doesn’t necessarily mean he is sick. Rather look out for other visible signs of illness such as lack of appetite, lethargy, vomiting etc…

Enjoy those cold wet nose kisses-I do!

Here are some cute wall art vinyls for your home. Click on the link below the images to place your order.

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Click here to order your wall vinyls

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Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween (for Saturday)! Oscar and I enjoy dressing up for all occasions, and halloween is no different. Oscar is the best model and dresser-upper! Somehow he just understands that I would like a super cute photograph of him in his crazy outfit to share with the world. Other times, he knows that its super cute to just run around the house looking like a dog ghost or play in the garden with his doggie-sunnies on. Either way Oscar is absolutely fine with dressing up, which of course makes my heart explode with love and happiness!

Halloween is an occasion where anything goes and you can be as crazy and creative as you want. The crazier the better, but please be careful as to how far to go with your pets. After all their safety always comes first!

Here are some fun and safe ways to enjoy halloween with your pets…

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paw Dressing up: When it comes to dressing your pooch up in cute and funny costumes, you need to know their limits. The costume should never affect your pups ability to see, walk, breathe or hear. Your pup should be comfortable. You can visit the Stylish Paws online store for some cute Angry Bird dog jackets www.stylishpaws.co.za/shop2

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paw Sweets: It is a well known fact that sweets and chocolate are a definite NO for our furry loves! Keep all sweets and chocolate out of reach to your pooch, but don’t exclude them in getting some tasty treats. Make them some of their own halloween goodies to enjoy. Below are a few ideas-

Scary carrot fingers

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup flour

1 egg

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1/3 cup fat free milk

1 tbs olive oil

1 green pepper

Directions

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix together the egg, carrots, milk and olive oil, then add the flour and knead the dough. Break off tablespoon sized pieces and shape them into fingers. Place them onto a greased baking tray and cut a piece of green pepper to make the finger nail. Bake them for 20 minutes. Let them cool and dry out over night. Let your pooch enjoy his halloween fingers! Store them in an airtight container or freeze them.

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Pumpkin Fro-Yo

Ingredients

1 jar pumpkin puree

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 cup natural Greek yoghurt

Directions

Blend all the ingredients together until smooth. Pour the mixture into ice trays or halloween shaped moulds (I definitely need to get some). Freeze for a few hours. Let your pup enjoy his fro-yo treats! Keep frozen.

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paw Decor: Halloween decor is fun, but you need to be careful of chocking hazards when choosing your fun decorations. Dangling cob webs and plastic insects can catch your cats attention and can be a hazard. Keep candles on high tables and shelves or use battery operated ones instead. Raw pumpkin lanterns are the perfect decoration.

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paw Trick or treating: When you take your furry love trick or treating to show off his fabulous outfit, please pay attention to his mood and anxiety levels. Your pooch may not react to people dressed up as well as you think he will.

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Most of all, have fun with your pets and neighbours! Halloween is a night filled with silliness. Look after your furry loves and enjoy dressing up with them.

Thank you for reading.

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Happy 12th Birthday Oscar!

Today Oscar tuns 12 years old! Birthdays in my family are always a time to celebrate, and because Oscar is a very important member of our family, naturally we celebrate his birthday too! Some people have the opinion that celebrating your pooches birthday is a little on the OTT side. I ask why? When your furry love is your best friend, your soul mate and a part of the family. We have celebrated each one of Oscar’s 12 birthdays and they have always been tons of fun for him and for us. Oscar knows when it is his special day. Unwrapping presents is his best, and of course he always enjoys his birthday cake!

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Here are some ways you can celebrate your pups special day…

paw Bake a cake

There is nothing more rewarding for me than baking for Oscar. He loves all his special homemade treats and he knows the difference between a shop bought treat and my homemade treats. He has no problem turning his nose up at shop bought treats.

Here are 3 recipes that are easy to make and your pooch will love you forever:

Oscar’s birthday cake

Ingredients

2 cups water or fat free milk

1 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1 tsp vanilla essence

3 cups wholewheat flour or all purpose flour

1 tbs baking powder

1 large egg

Frosting

1 tub plain cream cheese

1 tub natural greek yoghurt

Directions

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix all the ingredients together and mix for 5 minutes, making sure all ingredients are properly mixed (I used a cake mixer and mixed on a medium speed for 5 minutes). Grease your cake tin and pour the cake mixture into your cake tin. Place it into your oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until cooked. You know the cake is done when you insert a fork in the centre and it comes out clean. Let it cool on a cooling rack before frosting.

To make the frosting beat your cream cheese until it is light and fluffy. Add the greek yogurt one tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency. Be careful not to make it too runny. Frost your pooches cake and decorate with homemade treats (recipe below).

birthday cake

Pupcakes

Ingredients

2 mashed bananas

1/3 cup natural smooth peanut butter

1/4 cup vegetable oil or coconut oil

1/2 cup fat free milk

1tsp vanilla essence

1/3 cup honey

1 cup shredded carrots

1 cup wholewheat flour or oat flour

1tsp baking soda

Frosting

Natural greek yoghurt

Natural smooth peanut butter

Directions

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix all the ingredients together and mix for 5 minutes, making sure all ingredients are properly mixed (I used a cake mixer and mixed on a medium speed for 5 minutes). Line your cupcake tin with cupcake liners or you can use silicone cupcake moulds like I did. Place a spoonful of your pupcake mixture into the cupcake liners and bake them for 15 minutes or until cooked. You know the pupcakes are done when you insert a fork in the centre and it comes out clean. Let them cool on a cooling rack before frosting.

To make the frosting blend together 3 tablespoons of natural greek yoghurt and 1 1/2 tablespoons natural peanut butter. Frost the pupcakes and decorate with homemade treats (recipe below).

pupcakes

Honey and oat dog treats

Ingredients

2 cups flour or more if you need

2 cups oats

1/2 cup fat free milk or coconut milk

1/3 cup honey

1 large egg

Directions

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Add all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl and mix with a wooden spoon. When you can no longer mix with the wooden spoon, tip the dough onto a floured surface and knead it. Roll out your dough and use cookie cutters to cut into biscuits for your furry love. Place them onto a greased baking tray and bake for 15 minutes, turning them over half way through baking time. The biscuits are done when they are golden brown. Leave them on a tray to cool. You can store these in an airtight container for on hand treats.

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paw Give them a present

In the same way we love to buy ourselves a new handbag or those designer shoes, your pets love getting new toys, beds and collars too. So spoil your pets on their special day, wrap it up and watch them have some fun opening their gifts! You can visit the Stylish Paws online store for stylish pet accessories (www.stylishpaws.co.za/shop2).

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paw Take them to the beach

I wish we lived at the beach! Oscar absolutely loves running free and rolling in the beach sand. A birthday beach day would definitely be his ideal way to spend his birthday. When we do go on beach holidays, it’s always that much more special because it doesn’t happen everyday.

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paw Host a party

Throw your pooch a birthday party and instead of guests bringing gifts for your furry love, they can bring food, bedding and toys for a local animal rescue shelter. You and your pooch can then take a trip and donate all the goodies. At Stylish Paws we support Woodrock Animal Rescue and Oscar just loves visiting!

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paw Make the day about them

Make sure your pup knows the day is all about him. Take the day off work and go for an extra long walk in the park, play tons of games together and have a picnic in the garden. Just be in each others company and enjoy the quality time.

If Oscar could have one wish I wonder what it would be? I know what mine would be….

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We hope you enjoy celebrating your pups birthday as much as we do!

Thank you for reading.

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Get fit with your dog!

Spring Day is around the corner! A day where we notice the blossoms starting to bloom and the sun feels slightly warmer. Everyones mood suddenly changes too… Summer is on it’s way! Lets face it, exercising during the cold winter months is hard work and most of us would rather curl up under a blanket and snuggle with our furry loves.

With warmer days, we are more inclined to put on our running shoes and get fit- So why not do it with your best friend! Here are some ideas on how to get outdoors and get fit with your furry loves…

paw Take a jog – everyone loves a running partner and your furry love is perfect for the job. Ease into it and take care not to over do it for yourself or your pooch. No one went from couch potato to marathon runner over night! If you are not a keen runner, a brisk walk is just as good. If you live near a beach, even better. Taking your pooch for a walk will not only increase your mood, it will increase your pups mood too and he will be less likely to behave badly.

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paw Join an agility training group – agility training is a great cardio workout for both you and your pup. It also increases your dogs coordination. You can train for competitions too, who knows you might just win that first prize!

paw Doga – It might sound strange, but the benefits of yoga are just as good for your furry love as they are for you. Teach your hound a few poses like ‘downward dog’, ‘upward dog’ and ‘double leg stretch’. This quiet time with your dog is great owner-pet bonding time.

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paw Take a swim – Swimming is a fun way to get fit, and swimming with your furry love is even better! Run, jump and dive with your pooch. Play fun water games like fetch and see who is the best doggy paddler. Swimming is especially beneficial for dogs suffering with arthritis. Taking a slow calm swim is just as beneficial for them.

paw Play some frisbee – Dogs love to play fetch and frisbee offers a fantastic workout at the same time. A quick game of frisbee in your garden after work will do wonders for your pooch and yourself. Get the kids to join in too. It’s a fun activity for the entire family.

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paw Kick a ball – Which dog doesn’t love running after a ball? So playing a game of soccer is an obvious choice. It is another game the entire family can enjoy too. Please take care not to kick the ball too hard or directly at your dogs face and body!

paw Take a hike – If you have an athletic pooch, a hike is the perfect way to spend your Saturday or Sunday mornings. Dogs love to go out and find new smells and meet new animals while spending quality time with their owners. Be sure to protect yourself and your pooch against ticks and fleas and remember to pack plenty of water to drink.

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paw The dog park – while this isn’t necessarily the best work out for you, your pooch LOVES a bit of off the leash madness! Provided your dog is well socialised, having a crazy run around with friends at the park is an awesome way for them to burn off that extra energy.

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Please be careful not to over do it with your pets. You know your dog, so look for signs of fatigue. Be careful not to exercise during the heat of the day. Early mornings or late afternoons are best. Always remember to offer your dog plenty of water during and after exercising. Just like us dogs can dehydrate and get heat exhaustion. Consider the age of your furry love too. Puppies shouldn’t be over exercised and older dogs will be slower in their activities. A visit to the vet is always recommended before you start an exercise program with your pets.

Most importantly, enjoy getting fit with your best pal!

Please share your comments and photos of you and your furry loves getting fit together 🙂

Thank you for reading

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Pup-Sitting…

Well this is most definitely a first for our family! We are puppy sitting a super cute 12 week old Jack Russell puppy for two weeks. Oscar has been an only child for his entire 11 years of being with us. He only knows the house with himself getting all the love, affection and attention so this is a very new experience for him to deal with. I was unsure at how he would cope with sharing his most prized possessions – his toys, his bed, his couch, his space and most importantly his family. I was unsure at how meal times would go too. All I can say is that I am immensely proud at how well Oscar adjusted to having the temporary presence of Cali. He has played with her for hours, he even allows her to sneak onto the edge of his bed for a cuddle, he allows her to share his water bowl and steal a kibble or two at meal times. Of course he gives her a stern word when he has had enough of play time and needs a power nap to regain his strength to carry on with another marathon play session. However, despite all the cuteness and fun Oscar and Cali have had together, it has not been quite so easy for the humans of the house. Opening your house to a puppy when you have not had one for quite some time, can be challenging! She has had accidents in the house, wakes us up three times a night to go outside and constantly steals whatever she can find lying around.

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So before you agree to puppy sit, here are a few tips on how to make the experience enjoyable for everyone involved.

paw Make sure you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. Suggest a sleep over a few weeks before.

paw Make sure your own dog and the visiting pup have their own space where they can escape each other and have a little time out.

paw You may want to get a baby gate to keep the puppy in a secluded area to play, or even use a play pen. This way your house remains in one piece and you have peace of mind knowing the puppy is safe and not getting up to mischief!

paw Make sure the puppy is fully vaccinated as well as tick and flea free. You don’t want her infecting your house or your pets.

paw If like us you have not had a puppy in your home for a while, you may want to puppy proof your home prior to her arrival.

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paw Keep all cupboards closed and locked if possible. You can use rubber bands over the handles to secure them too.

paw Keep the pantry door closed at all times too. There are loads of potential hazardous items for a puppy- Yes Cali loves visiting ours and sniffing things out!

paw Keep your toilet seats down. A puppy can easily drown if she jumps up and falls in.

paw Don’t leave any cables, chargers, plugs or tv remotes lying around. I’m sure you won’t feel like rushing out to buy a new cell phone charger!

paw Don’t leave shoes, socks or clothes lying around the floor. They will either get ripped apart or become a comfy spot to take a nap.

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paw Make sure all cleaning products, garden poisons and tools are locked away. You definitely don’t want to rush a puppy that is not yours to the vet!

paw Most importantly enjoy having the puppy in your home. Oscar has loved having someone to play with, but he will be very happy when he doesn’t have to share his home or his family with anyone 🙂

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Have you ever puppy sat for an extended period? How was the experience for you? Please share your stories by writing in the comments box below.

Thank you for reading.

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Master the art of a doggy massage!

We all love a full body massage! There is nothing better than lying on that massage bed while the therapist gets rid of all your stresses and knots. You feel amazing after a full body massage right? Massages stimulate blood flow, soothes sore muscles and it calms and relaxes you. So why not let your furry love enjoy these benefits too…

While snuggled on the couch or while lying in front of the fire, give your pooch a massage he will want every night of the week!

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Here are some tips on how to give your dog the perfect full body massage.

paw Set up your massage area, either on the floor, on the couch or on the bed. As long as you are both comfy. A blanket will make the spot extra snug and comfortable for your dog.

paw Get your dog to lie down, preferably on his belly to begin with. Start at the top of his head making circular motions with your finger tips massage down to his neck. Remember to be gentle with your dog, you want him to enjoy this experience.

paw Dogs LOVE their necks being tickled and scratched so take your time and really massage his neck.

paw Massage slowly all the way down his back to the base of the tail. Don’t rush through the massage. This is a time for you and your furry love to enjoy each others presence. It also gives you the opportunity to feel for irregularities such as lumps, bumps, scratches or bruises that may have developed.

paw You can carefully turn your pet over onto his back so you can massage his neck, chest and tummy area. Again, be gentle and don’t press too hard on his neck or tummy. If your pooch has loads of excess neck skin like Oscar does then this part of the massage will be a winner.

paw If your dog flinches or yelps, you have most likely hit a sore spot so be gentle.

paw Massage his legs all the way to his toes. Keep an eye out for any debris that may have wedged in-between his toes like grass shards, thorns or seeds.

Enjoy this quality time with your furry love. Tickle him, kiss him and love him.

Oscar lives for his weekly massages. We hope these tips help you give the best doggy massage!

Oscar after his massage…

after massage Oscar

Have you given your dog a massage? Please share your tips with us by leaving a comment in the comments box below.

Thank you for reading.

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Take your pets to work day

Today is international take your pets to work day. Did you take your pets into the office today? Or do you work in an environment that allows you to take your pets to work everyday? I am lucky enough to work from home so Oscar comes to the ‘office’ with me everyday. He loves it and so do I!

Research has shown that employers who allow pets to be brought to work saw a reduced stress level among employees, as well as an increase in overall productivity.

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Making your office pet friendly can be as easy as 1..2..3. However, there needs to be some office etiquette from your pets side too. So, here are a few tips to make the workspace enjoyable for you and your pooch.

 

paw It’s a good idea for your pet to be well trained and comfortable around new people and other pets.

paw Make sure you don’t have meetings booked all day. Its not a good idea to leave your pets unattended for long periods of time.

paw While its fun for your pets to wonder around the office, offering sloppy kisses and cuddles to co-workers, not everyone will enjoy saying hi to your pets. Be conscious and considerate of who does and does not want sloppy kisses first thing in the morning.

paw Remember to pack your pets’ favourite toy, a comfortable bed and of course some food, water and treats.

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paw During your lunch break, take them out for a walk instead of heading to the canteen. If your office has a garden, make use of it and have a picnic with your pooch- they will love it!

paw Most of all have fun with your pets being in the office with you. Talk to them often. Enjoy having them curled up on your lap, under your desk or beside your chair.

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Meet Oscar

Hello world; welcome to Stylish Paws, Everything Pets. My name is Stacey and my furry love is Oscar. Oscar is a Basset Hound cross Bulldog, he is an only child-like myself and is oh so spoilt by his dad and I.

Oscar was born on September 30th 2003 and came into my life 7 weeks later. Do you believe in love at first sight? I do! Oscar and I knew we were soul mates the minute we saw each other. And who could blame me, with his far too long ears and droopy eyes?

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I have grown up with pets my entire life, however Oscar is ‘my’ very first dog. My grandparents always had dogs, which I loved and would often crawl into their kennel for an afternoon nap. Oscar has taught me a lot and continues to teach me each day. He is now 11 years young and still my baby boy. No one quite understands the love I have for Oscar, and I often say to my mom “I hope I love my children one day as much as I love Oscar”.

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So it is quite obvious to say that Oscar is the inspiration behind Stylish Paws. He loves being the perfect model and showing off all his Stylish apparel. You can browse the Stylish Paws online store (www.sytylishpaws.co.za/shop2) for super Stylish goodies for yourself or your pets, and remember we ship worldwide. If you are unsure about something at any point during your checkout please do not hesitate to send me an email on Stacey@stylishpaws.co.za . We are so excited about our new website and blog and we hope you enjoy it too. We look forward to sharing stories, tips and ideas with you and receiving your feedback.

 

Thank you for reading.

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